David Pollard's Poetic Response to Self-Portraits from Bak to Wallinger
In midwinter 2007, David Pollard's poetic journey commenced after he encountered Tintoretto's self-portrait at the Prado, where the 25 by 20 inch oil painting of the artist at 70 left a lasting impression. This pivotal moment was followed by a Christmas gift from his wife: the Taschen book '500 Self-Portraits,' which motivated him to compose poems inspired by these artworks. He crafted 72 lyrical pieces that explore self-portraits from Bak in 1500 BCE to modern artist Mark Wallinger. Pollard's poems, characterized by a modernist style, serve as concise quartets, reflecting each artist's life through their self-representations. Born in 1942, he has held various roles, including furniture salesman and university lecturer, and authored multiple works, such as 'The Poetry of Keats' and 'Risk of Skin.' His project uniquely merges art history with poetic interpretation across centuries.
Key facts
- David Pollard created 72 poems responding to artists' self-portraits
- The project spans from Bak (1500 BCE) to Mark Wallinger (contemporary)
- Inspiration began with Tintoretto's self-portrait at the Prado in midwinter 2007
- Pollard received Taschen's '500 Self-Portraits' as a Christmas gift
- Pollard was born in 1942 and holds three degrees from University of Sussex
- He has worked as furniture salesman, accountant, TEFL teacher, and lecturer
- Pollard authored 'The Poetry of Keats: Language and Experience' and other works
- His poetry collections include 'patricides' and 'Risk of Skin'
Entities
Artists
- Leonora Carrington
- David Pollard
- Tintoretto
- Bak
- Mark Wallinger
- Hieronymus Bosch
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Brother Rufillus
Institutions
- University of Sussex
- Prado
- Taschen
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain